'Tis the season to get spooked and celebrate a frightful Halloween, and the Gulf Shores, Alabama area hosts plenty of events for you to get your fill of this hocus pocus holiday. Don't miss your chance to hop on the Pumpkin Patch Express or the Ghoul Family Night Train!

Hop on the Pumpkin Patch Express near Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast

Ready to get into the Halloween spirit in Gulf Shores, Alabama? The Pumpkin Patch Express is calling all families who stay at Gulf Shores and Orange Beach vacation rentals to hop on and choo-choo their way through crafts tents, fun inflatable rides and, of course, numerous pumpkin patches. Your kids can ride on a real steam-powered train, and even check out adorable animals at the petting zoo and be thrilled by their first pony ride!

As with so many events on Alabama and Florida's beautiful Gulf Coast, the Pumpkin Patch Express is a fun-filled activity for families who want to take a break from the stunning white-sand beaches and celebrate the changing seasons with a bit of trick-or-treating.

If you're heading over to Gulf Shores, Orange Beach or Fort Morgan this fall, here are just a few tips for how to get the most out of the Pumpkin Patch Express:

How to get there

The Pumpkin Patch Express takes place at the Wales West RV Park. To get there, just take a short drive north from Gulf Shores to just outside the town of Silverhill. The 45-minute ride is well worth it, because you'll have a full day of excitement waiting for you!

Can't-miss activities

Not only will there be a sweet steam train ride - which is open to children of all ages - but guests also have the chance to decorate a pumpkin. Since the pumpkin comes with the price of admission, you don't want to miss this stop at the carving station where you can help your kids create their very own jack-o-lantern. If you're heading home before All Hallow's Eve, place your pumpkins in front of your house and tell all of your neighbors about gorgeous Gulf Shores as you divvy out some candy.

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You've probably heard the phrase "A picture is worth 1,000 words," and the saying could not be any more true than in Gulf Shores, where you can capture precious moments of your kids playing in the sand or friends sharing a few laughs over a basket of fried shrimp and fresh oysters.

The month of October is full of opportunities enjoy fall activities in and around Gulf Shores. Enjoy festivals like the Shrimp Festival, German Sausage Festival, Alabama Coastal Birdfest and more. Then, head over to Wales West for a ride aboard the Pumpkin Patch Express.

The weather along Alabama and Florida's Gulf Coast is always pleasant. If staying at a Perdido Key area beach house or condo rental the first full weekend of November, consider the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival, where you can enjoy the beautiful sunshine while perusing crafts, visiting artists' tents and listening to live music.

What's great about house or condo vacation rentals is that they're outfitted with kitchens, giving you the chance to cook your own meals during your beach getaway. Located just north of Gulf Shores is Loxley, where you can stock up on fresh groceries at the Burris Farm Market.

Looking for something to do off the beach during your vacation in Perdido Key? Kids are sure to love a trip to the local zoos. Whether you're looking to see Florida's indigenous species or play with some of the big cats of Africa, the Perdido Key area has plenty to offer.

Keeping the whole family happy when you're on vacation is tough, but luckily, Gulf Shores has enough fun activities to keep everyone entertained. With a little preparation and some thoughtful planning, you'll be able to find a Gulf Shores vacation rental and pack an itinerary full of family-friendly attractions!

There are plenty of family-friendly attractions in Gulf Shores, whether you feel like playing a round of mini golf, racing a go-kart or heading out on a family bike ride. Just minutes from Gulf Shores rentals, there are activities that will take parents and kids from morning to night!

Want to get your shopping done in one big trip? The Tanger Outlet Center in the city of Foley has more than 120 factory outlets so you can get the most bang for your buck at all of your favorite stores, from Gap and Fossil to Kitchen Collection, Bose and Nike.

Local and regional teams from Gulf Shores, Orange Beach, Mobile, Birmingham, Montgomery and Huntsville gather to compete in three main categories - Rockefeller, Gulf Coast Cajun or Create Your Own Raw oysters - at this exciting event held in early November.

For more than four decades, thousands of people have flocked to Gulf Shores for the National Shrimp Festival, featuring live music, cooking competitions, and of course, a nearly endless amount of shrimp!